Program Specialist II

Job Title

Program Specialist II

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Education Program/Easa

Proposed Minimum Salary

$4,000.00 monthly

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Who we are

Texas A&M Engineering is a large employer in the great and growing cities of Bryan/College Station, offering thousands of career opportunities in a wide variety of fields. We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and service. Texas A&M Engineering offers competitive salaries, full benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Job Description

Purpose:

Under general supervision by the Senior Director of Student Engagement for Academic Success (SEAS), the Program Specialist II performs specialist duties within the unit. More specifically, the Program Specialist II assists the Senior Director and Assistant Director with planning and developing specialized activities and programs for the retention and success of first-generation college students in the College of Engineering; subject to the availability of resources, program efforts could also include students from underserved and/or low-income communities. The primary focus for this position is student retention with a focus on activities for undergraduate students.

Responsibilities:

• Plans, develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors programs or services to retain first-generation college students in the College of Engineering. This responsibility includes:
  • planning and developing specialized programs such as  seminars, lectures, meetings, and workshops.
  • recruiting, interviewing, training, and supervising the undergraduate or graduate students who assist in implementing retention programs.

• Provides and coordinates advanced professional level administrative support to SEAS programs and may assign duties to student employees (and on occasion to other SEAS team members) for specified programs. A sample of current SEAS programs include First-Generation Engineering Students (FGEn) Mentoring Program, Engineering Bridge Program, and the Engineering Regents' Scholars Program (in College Station, Galveston, and McAllen).
• Serves as the College of Engineering representative on the university-level First-Generation Coordinating Committee.
• Serves as lead coordinator for the Engineering Regents’ Scholars Program and works with college-level partners to support Engineering Regents’ Scholars located across all sites - College Station, Galveston, and McAllen. Liaises with the Routh First-Generation Center on best practices and activities for Regents’ Scholars. Tracks Engineering Regents’ Scholars academic progress and fulfillment of scholarship requirements. Plans and hosts regular check-in meetings with Engineering Regents’ Scholars to build community, share best practices, and identify issues. Coordinates phone-a-thon and/or virtual outreach and recruitment events to potential Engineering Regents’ Scholars. Develops and manages correspondence to potential and current Engineering Regents’ Scholars.
• Assists with tracking student performance, engagement, and persistence for a select number of externally funded scholarships that are managed and/or facilitated by SEAS (e.g., Saenger First Gen Scholars, Chevron ENGAGE Scholarship, Garland First Generation Scholarship, etc.).
• Confers with SEAS staff on program issues and problems. Coordinates specialized program communications and marketing materials with SEAS staff and appropriate members of the College’s communications team. Coordinates with the College’s recruiting personnel for promotional campaigns and recruitment events, when appropriate.
• Assists and supports other SEAS team members with various events and meetings, as needed. May serve as a staff mentor for the FGEn Mentoring Program.
• Serves as instructor of record and facilitates Regents' Scholars and/or Engineering Bridge Program sections of the College’s first-year experience course, CLEN 181: Engineering Learning Community & Student Success Seminar.
• Assists in the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines for SEAS programs and services. Assists in the preparation and maintenance of budgets, special reports, and other documents for specialized programs led by SEAS.
• Assists with collecting appropriate data and writing stewardship reports to procure and/or renew federal, foundation, and/or corporate funding. Assists with data collection for state reporting and auditing purposes.
• Attends meetings and conferences to discuss the progress of assigned programs.  Meetings and conferences may occur at various levels - national, state, university, and college levels.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What we need:

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience.

What is helpful:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Student Development or STEM Education.
• Experience in a university environment developing and implementing programs that promote engineering as a profession and that promote student access and success with a focus on first-generation college students and students from underserved and/or low-income communities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Knowledge of barriers and challenges that impact the success of first-generation college students and students from underserved and/or low-income communities -- within the contexts of pursing higher education and broadening participation in STEM.
• Knowledge of research informed best practices and procedures for improving student success, such as college student mentoring and/or learning communities.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and customer service skills.
• Maintains attention to detail and utilizes sound judgment.

Work Location:

• Main Campus – College Station, TX.

Salary Range:

• $4,000.00/per month or more depending on qualifications.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits.
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance options.
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS), a defined benefit retirement plan with 8% employer contribution.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation Program 457(b).
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional development opportunities.
• Tuition assistance https://engineering.tamu.edu/information/esac/educational-assistance-programs.html
• Wellness program release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.
• Offer total rewards, flexible benefits, professional development, performance recognition and work-life balance.
• Ensure resources are readily available and utilized to attract and retain the highest quality researchers, faculty, and staff.  

Employment Eligibility Verification

• If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.